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WANT TO SEE the very worst of human nature? Look no further than financial salespeople—and the way they exploit their clients. Incentives drive their behavior. High commissions make brokers and insurance agents do unconscionable things.

The worst products contain the highest payouts. Result? Consider seven real-life examples. Names are withheld to protect the innocent and, unfortunately, also the guilty. A widowed nurse inherited her husband’s $1 million IRA.

An unscrupulous insurance salesperson convinced her to put the funds into a high-cost variable annuity. He collected over $80,000 in commissions for this dastardly deed. When a friend tried to undo this transaction, it was too late. The advisor could not be reached because he was on a European vacation with his family.